Record making machine



9 w 4 9 2, 2 M T| Sept. 1, 1942. E L. WISE I RECORD MAKING MACHINE Ffiled Aug. 2, 1940 v lNVENTOR ELMER WISE BY ATTO RNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORD MAKING MACHINE Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,728

4 Claims.

This invention relates to record making machines and more particularly to typewriting machines and combined typewriting and accounting machines of the so-called Elliott Fisher type. Certain features of the invention, however, are 5 not limited to this particular type of machine and may be embodied with advantage in other record making machines.

In record making machines of the Elliott Fisher type, a so-called label is often used to indicate the column and the point in the column at which the typing is taking place on the Work sheet or form. This label usually consists of a narrow strip of paper extending transversely of the machine and divided off to correspond with the columns of the work sheet or form. This label is applied to a portion of the line space frame adjacent the position indicator that moves with the carriage along the front rail of said frame.

It is frequently necessary to change the label T which is in use in the machine for a different label having a different arrangement of the spaces or divisions as in changing from a work sheet having one set-up to a work sheet having a different set-up. The changing of the labels requires that 225 the label in use be removed from the label holder and another label be inserted in said holder and the latter label must be accurately adjusted in a predetermined position in the holder. This operation necessitates the expenditure of a considerable amount of labor and time.

One object of the present invention is to provide record making machines with a novel and improved construction for holding a label of the character above indicated.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a construction for record making machines by which the labels may be more quickly and easily changed than in prior machines in shifting from a work sheet having one set-up to a work sheet having a different set-up.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in a construction embodying the novel and improved features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readilyunderstood and appreciatedby those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the construction therein shown. 7

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view partly broken away of certain parts of a machine of the Elliott Fisher type embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation illustrating certain parts of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view, diagrammatic in part, showing the safety bail illustrated in Fig. 1 detached from the machine and certain associated parts for supporting the safety bail, and

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken through the safety bail.

The invention is illustrated in this application as applied to a typewriting machine or a combined typewriting and accounting machine of the Elliott Fisher type such as that illustrated and described in the patent to Foothorap No. 1,904,127, dated April 18, 1933. The machine illustrated in this application preferably has substantially the same construction, arrangement and mode of operation of parts, except as to the safety bail and certain associated parts, as the machine illustrated and described in said patent. In the drawing of this case, only certain portions of the platen frame, the platen, the type carriage, the

type bar mechanism and the line space frame,

together with certain associated parts, are shown.

The machine shown and described in said Foothorap patent comprises a platen frame, a substantially flat platen supported for vertical movement in said frame, a line space frame mounted on the platen frame for forward and rearward movement over the platen and a type carriage carried by the line space frame and arranged for lateral movement on said frame in letter spacing and return directions. All of these parts have substantially the same construction in the present machine as in the machine shown and described in said patent.

The constructions shown in the drawing of this application comprise a platen frame having side bars or rails indicated at 2, a substantially flat platen indicated at 4, supported for vertical movement in said frame and a line space frame indicated as a whole at 6, mounted for forward and rearward movement on said side rails over the platen. The line space frame comprises front and rear transverse bars or' rails 8 and I 0 extending over the platen frame and platen, and side bars I2 connected to said rails and extending alongside the side bars of the platen frame outside of the same. The line space frame is provided with front and rear sets of rollers or wheels I4 and I6 which engage tracks formed on the upper surfaces of the side rails 2 of the platen frame. The front and rear rails 8 and Ill constitute supporting guide rails upon'which the type carriage,

shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, and indicated as a Whole at H, rides.

A transverse line space frame operating shaft 56 is journaled in the line space frame and carries the rollers 16 which are fixed thereto. To this shaft are also fixed gears, one of which is shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 and indicated at 26, meshing respectively with racks 22 secured to the side rails 2 of the platen frame. The shaft I8 is driven in opposite directions through suitable driving connections such, for example, as shown in said Foothorap patent, from an electric motor indicated at 24. The conductors 26 of the circuit for the motor lead to the terminals of a safety control switch indicated as a whole at 28. This circuit is also controlled by a manually operated switch indicated at 36.

The type bar mechanism mounted on the type carriage l1, preferably has substantially the same construction, arrangement and mode of operation of parts as the corresponding mechanism illustrated and described in the patent to Foothorap No. 1,251,361, dated December 25, 1917. The type bar mechanism comprises a series of key levers 32, pivoted on the type carriage and provided with keys 34 mounted on the forward ends of the levers. The type bars and the connections between the key levers and the type bars are not shown in this application, but are fully illustrated and described in Patent No. 1,251,361 referred to above.

The machine is provided with the usual position indicator 36 mounted on a cross bar secured to the type carriage and arranged to move along the usual scale, hereinafter referred to, to corre spond with the movement of the carriage in letter spacing and return directions.

The platen 4 is mounted for vertical movement win the line space frame and is arranged t clamp the work between the side margins of the platen and the opposed clamping plates 38 respectively secured to the side bars 2 of the platen frame.

The platen is preferably mounted in substantially the same manner and is operated by substantially the same mechanism as in the machine illustrated and described in the patent to Foothorap No. 1,596,420, dated August 1'7, 1926. As in the mechanism shown and described in said patent,

the platen is normally held yieldingly in its upward position by a suitable spring mechanism and is arranged to be depressed by a suitable treadle.

In applying a work sheet such as that indicated at 39 in operating position, the platen is depressed and the work sheet is applied to the platen and manipulated to insert the left hand margin between the left hand margin of the platen and the clamping plate 38 and the edge of the sheet is engaged with the left hand rail 2 which forms a work gage.

The present machine is provided with a safety bail indicated at 46 similar in operation to the safety bail illustrated and described in Patent No. 1,904,127, referred to above. This safety bail consists of a sheet metal plate shaped as shown in the drawing and mounted for slight forward and rearward pivotal movement upon the front rail 8 of the line space frame.v This bail is arranged to control the switch 28.

The safety bail is provided with a label holder for holding a label separated off into divisions corresponding with the columns of the work sheet 39. The label holder comprises a sheet metal plate 42 bent in the shape shown in cross section in Fig. 4 to provide an overhanging portion 44 spaced from the body of the plate and an overhanging portion es bent down against the body of the plate as shown in said figure. This plate is attached to the upper portion of the safety bail in the position shown in Fig. 4. To the overhanging portion 46 of said plate 62 is secured a retaining plate 46 which, with the overhanging portion44 of the plate 42, forms a groove to receive a label 56. This label preferably consists of a relatively narrow strip of paper having divisions corresponding with the columns of the Work sheet and having designations corresponding to the headings of said columns. The label is applied to the label holder of the bail by inserting the label endwise into the retaining groove.

As stated above, it is frequently desirable to substitute another label for the label in use upon the machine as in changing from work having one columnar system or set-up to work having another columnar system. In order to enable the labels to be quickly and easily shifted, a plurality of safety bails are provided, each having a different label applied thereto and the bails and the devices for supporting the bails upon the front rail of the machine are constructed and arranged so that a bail may be applied to the machine or removed from the machine by a manipulation of the bail. The machine is also provided with means for locating the bail in a predetermined and definite position longitudinally upon the line space frame when it is applied to said frame.

The mechanism for pivotally supporting the bail upon the line space frame comprises a supporting stud 52 secured in a block 54 fixed to the forward side of the front rail 8. The stud 52 is inserted in a suitable opening in the block 54 and is provided with a shoulder or collar 56 for '40 engaging the inner face of the block, this collar preferably having a peripheral shape to enable "1a Wrench to be applied to hold the stud from turning in securing the same in place. The stud is secured in the block by means of a nut '45} 5B threaded on the outer end of the stud.

The inner end of the stud 52 is formed with a bearing recess 66 arranged to receive a bearing projection 62 formed on the right hand end (Fig. 1) of the safety bail. The stud 52 pivotally supports one end of the safety bail.

The other end of the safety bail is pivotally supported by means of a stud 64 slidably mounted in a block 66 also secured to the forward face of the front rail 8. The stud 66 is formed with a bearing recess 68 arranged to receive a bearing projection 16 formed on the left hand end (Fig. 1) of the bail. The stud 64 is slidably mounted in an opening in the block 66 and is acted upon by a coiled spring l2 which constantly tends to force the stud in a right hand direction. The movement of the stud through'the block 66 under the influence of the spring 12, when there is no safety bail inserted between the bearing studs, is limited by means of a collar 14 secured on the 5 outer end of the stud. The length of the safety bail is such that, when the bail is inserted in operating position between the inner ends of the studs 52 and 64, the stud 64 is pressed back to some extent to the left of its extreme right hand 70 position determined by the collar 14.

With this construction the safety bail is pivotally supported between the ends of the studs 52 and 64 as shown in Fig. 1, the pressure of the spring 12 securely holding the safety bail in position. The longitudinal position of the safety bail is determined by the engagement of the right hand end of the bail with the left hand 'or inner end of the stud 52, the spring 12 constantly maintaining the bail in contact with the end of the stud. Thus the bail is always held in a predetermined and definite longitudinal position on the line space frame and the label carried by the bail is located'in a predetermined position with relation to the inner faces of the rails 2 which form gages for the work sheets.

When it is desired to change the label which is in use in the machine and to substitute a label having a different arrangement of columns, the bail in use is removed from the machine and a bail having a label with the desired different arrangement of columns is inserted in the machine. In removing the bail which is in use, the bail is moved to the left (Fig. 1) thereby pressing back the stud 64 in opposition to the spring 12 until the projection 62 on the bail is disengaged from the bearing recess 60 in the stud 52. The right hand end of the bail is then swung laterally to clear the adjacent parts and the bail is then moved to the right to disengage the projection 18 from the recess 68 in the stud 64. A new bail is applied to the machine by reversing the above operations. That is, the projection 10 on the new bail is inserted in the recess 68, the pin 64 is pushed back by longitudinal movement of the bail to the left (Fig. 1) until the projection 62 on the right hand end of the bail will clear the inner end of the stud 52. The right hand end of the bail is then swung transversely of the bail to locate the projection 62, in a position to engage in the recess 60 and the bail is then released allowing the spring 12 to force the bail longitudinally to engage the projection 62 in said recess 68. The engagement of the end of the bail with the inner end of the stud 52 will locate the new bail in a predetermined and definite position longitudinally upon the line space frame. This location of the bail in each case in a predetermined longitudinal position also locates the label in a corresponding position, the label being positioned accurately on the bail before the bail is placed in the machine.

Figs. 1 and 3 show labels having two different arrangements of spaces corresponding to the difsheets.

It will be noted that, with the bail 4a pivotally mounted upon the supporting studs 52 and 64 in the manner described, upon pressing the bail rearwardly below the supporting studs, the bail will pivot upon the bearing projections 62 and 18.

The safety bail 49 is arranged to control the safety switch 28 in the motor circuit through connections between the bail and the switch having substantially the construction shown and described in the pending application of Oscar W. Swanson, Serial No. 282,035, filed June 30, 1939, upon which Patent No. 2,270,391, dated January 29, 1942 has been granted. To this end the bail is provided with a lateral extension 16 which is engaged with the forward end of a control rod 18 mounted in guide bores in the line space frame to slide forwardly and rearwardly with relation to said frame, the rod engaging said extension at a point considerably below the pivotal points of the bail as shown in Fig. 2. The rear end portion of the control rod 18 which is made of insulating material, engages the right hand end, Fig. 1, of a leaf spring 88 which carries one contact 82 of the switch 28.

The spring 88 is electrically connected with a terminal post 84 to which is attached one end of one of the conductors 26 and both spring and terminal post are mounted on a block 86 of insulating material fixed to the rear portion of the line space frame as shown in Fig. 1. The other contact '88 of the switch is secured to a leaf spring 90 electrically connected with a terminal post 92, both mounted on the insulating block 86 and one end "of the other conductor. 26 is attached to this terminal post.

The leaf spring 80 is constructed and arranged to maintain normally the contact 82 engaged with the contact 88 to hold the motor circuit closed. The lower part of the bail 40 is normally held in its forward position with relation to the rail 8 as shown in Fig. 1, by the action of the spring 88 on the rod 18. In the event that, while the line space frame is being driven by the motor forwardly over the platen, the safety bail 48 meets an obstruction, such as the fingers of the operator, the lower part of the bail will be swung rearwardly with relation to the front rail 8 and the control rod 18 will be moved rearwardly with relation to said frame by the bail to disengage the contact 82 from the contact 88 and thereby break the motor circuit.

The plate 48 constitutes a scale plate along which moves the position indicator 36. Fig. 4 shows the safety bail having an angular formation and located so that the upper portion thereof is substantially perpendicular to the line of vision of an operator sitting in front of the machine and looking at said portion of the bail. Both the scale and the label lie in planes substantially parallel with the upper portion of the bail, which position is particularly advantageous for the inspection of these parts.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and having illustrated and described a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed is:

1. A record making machine comprising type bar mechanism, a, platen frame, a substantially flat platen mounted for vertical movement in said frame, a line space frame having a front rail and movable forwardly and rearwardly on the platen frame, a carriage for the type bar mechanism mounted on the line space frame and movable laterally on said frame in letter spacing direction and return, a motor, a circuit for the motor, a label carrying bail movably mounted on the forward side of the front rail and extending along said rail transversely of the line space frame for controlling the motor circuit, means for supporting the bail on said rail for application to the rail and removal from the rail merely by manipulation of the bail and a label mounted on the bail in predetermined position longitudinally of the bail.

2. A record making machine comprising record making devices, a platen frame, a substantially fiat platen mounted for movement in said frame, a line space frame mounted on the platen frame for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the platen and having a front rail, a carriage for supporting said record making devices mounted on the line space frame for movement in letter spacing direction and return, a motor, a circuit for the motor, a movable label carrying bail mounted on the front rail and extending along said rail transversely of the line space frame for controlling the motor circuit, means for supporting the bail on said rail for ready removal, a label mounted on said bail in a predetermined and definite position longitudinally of the bail and means for accurately locating the bail in a predetermined and definite position laterally of the line space frame.

3. A record making machine comprising record making devices, a platen frame, a substantially flat platen mounted for movement in said frame, a line space frame mounted on the platen frame for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the platen and having a front rail, a carriage for supporting said record making devices mounted on the line space frame for movement in letter spacing direction and return, a motor, a circuit for the motor, a bail for controlling the motor circuit mounted on the front rail, means for supporting the bail on said rail for removal therefrom and application thereto by manipulation only of the bail and gaging means for locating the bail in a predetermined position laterally of the line space frame.

4. A record making machine comprising type mechanism and a platen relatively movable to transfer the type mechanism across a work sheet held by the platen in letter spacing direction and return, a frame fixed with relation to the platen in said directions, a label carrier mounted on said frame and removable therefrom and applicable thereto by manipulation of the carrier, means for locating the carrier on the frame in directions transverse to the carrier comprising projections at the ends of the carrier and devices on the frame having recesses to receive said projections, a stop on the frame to locate the carrier thereon in a direction substantially parallel with the direction of letter spacing, a spring acting on the carrier to hold the same normally engaged with the stop and a label mounted on said carrier.

ELMER L. WISE. 

